Tilt-Shift Adapter Without Auxiliary Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adapters for connecting interchangeable lenses with different mount shapes to camera bodies are complex, large, and expensive due to the need for auxiliary optical systems, limiting their use for tilt-shift photography.
Innovation Solution
A compact adapter system with a tilt-shift unit that maintains a flange focal length longer than the camera body's, allowing for detachable attachment of interchangeable lenses with varying image sizes, without an auxiliary optical system, enabling shift and tilt operations while preventing light shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary optical system is inserted to enable tilt-shift photography, then tilt-shift functionality is achieved, but the adapter becomes complicated, large, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the auxiliary optical system from the adapter structure, eliminating the need for additional lenses and optical components. Instead, the tilt-shift functionality is achieved by utilizing the existing optical system of the interchangeable lens, thereby simplifying the adapter to merely a mechanical mounting interface that maintains the required flange focal length.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary optical system is inserted to enable tilt-shift photography, then tilt-shift functionality is achieved, but the adapter size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the auxiliary optical system from the adapter design, the patent significantly reduces the adapter's length and physical dimensions. The adapter becomes a compact mechanical interface that only needs to accommodate the flange focal length difference, rather than housing additional optical components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary optical system is inserted to enable tilt-shift photography, then tilt-shift functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need to manufacture and assemble complex optical systems within the adapter. By using the interchangeable lens's existing optical system directly, the adapter can be manufactured as a simple mechanical component, significantly reducing material costs, manufacturing complexity, and assembly requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the flange focal length is made longer to accommodate different lens mounts, then lens compatibility is improved, but the adapter length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the adapter with a standardized flange focal length that provides universal compatibility across different interchangeable lens mounts. This multi-functional design allows the same adapter structure to work with various lens types while maintaining a compact form factor, avoiding the need for multiple specialized adapters of different lengths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adapter system provides a smaller, cost-effective solution for tilt-shift photography by equalizing flange focal lengths, allowing for interchangeable lens attachment and operation across different camera body sizes, enhancing operational stability and reducing torque requirements for shift and tilt functions.
Implementation Method 1
a camera body including an image sensor configured to photoelectrically convert the optical image of the object formed by the image-pickup optical system
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system includes an interchangeable lens including an image-pickup optical system, a camera body including an image sensor, and an adapter attached between the interchangeable lens and the camera body. The adapter includes a lens side mount to which the interchangeable lens is detachably attached, a camera side mount detachably attached to the camera body, and a tilt-shift unit configured to provide at least one of a tilt operation and a shift operation. A flange focal length of the interchangeable lens is longer than a flange focal length of the camera body. A length of the adapter from the lens side mount to the camera side mount in an optical axis direction is equal to or smaller than a difference between the flange focal length of the interchangeable lens and the flange focal length of the camera body.